Slot position coding of TTT syntax of spatial audio coding application

• US 8,165,889 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Pang, Hee Suk, Kim, Dong Soo, Lim, Jae Hyun, Oh, Hyen O, Jung, Yang-Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Godbold, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US12/839,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20110022397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 704200-201, 704500-501
• US Class Current: 704/500
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/008 Multichannel audio signal coding or decoding using interchannel correlation to reduce redundancy, e.g. joint-stereo, intensity-coding or matrixing
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/167 Audio streaming, i.e. formatting and decoding of an encoded audio signal representation into a data stream for transmission or storage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/007 in which the audio signals are in digital form data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2420/03 Application of parametric coding in stereophonic audio systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/002 Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30

Abstract

Spatial information associated with an audio signal is encoded into a bitstream, which can be transmitted to a decoder or recorded to a storage media. The bitstream can include different syntax related to time, frequency and spatial domains. In some embodiments, the bitstream includes one or more data structures (e.g., frames) that contain ordered sets of slots for which parameters can be applied. The data structures can be fixed or variable. The data structure can include position information that can be used by a decoder to identify the correct slot for which a given parameter set is applied. The slot position information can be encoded with a fixed number of bits or a variable number of bits based on the data structure type.

Claims

1. A media player, comprising:

a network communication unit configured to search audio related information, when a network is established;

an application unit configured to store an audio codec for decoding an audio signal;

a processor configured to perform operations of generating a multi-channel audio signal from the audio signal, the operations comprising;

receiving the audio signal including at least one frame, the frame comprising at least one time slot and at least one parameter set;

determining whether a low frequency enhancement (LFE) mode is applied to a particular OTT (One-To-Two), the LFE mode being different from a normal mode;

extracting time slot information in variable bit length, the time slot information indicating a time slot to which a parameter set is applied;

extracting LFE parameter band information in fixed bit length, the LFE parameter band information indicating a number of parameter bands for the particular OTT box; and

converting the audio signal into the multi-channel audio signal by applying the parameter of the parameter set to a parameter band of the time slot, based on the LFE parameter band information and the time slot information, wherein extracting the time slot information comprises;

extracting a number of time slots and a number of parameter sets from the audio signal to identify time slot information;

determining a bit length of the time slot information, the bit length being variable according to the number of time slots and the number of parameter sets; and

extracting the time slot information based on the bit length, wherein a number of time slot information is equal to the number of parameter sets;

an audio subsystem configured to convert the multi-channel audio signal into a multi- channel analog output signal; and

a speaker configured to output at least one channel of the multi-channel analog output signal.

2. The media player of claim 1, wherein at least two of the network communication unit, the application unit, the processor, the audio subsystem, and the speaker exchange data via one or more buses.

3. The media player of claim 1, wherein the time slot information is position information indicating a position of time slot to which a parameter set is applied.

4. The media player of claim 1, wherein the time slot information includes an absolute value indicating a time slot to which a first parameter set is applied or a difference value indicating a time slot to which a following parameter set of the first parameter set is applied.

5. The media player of claim 4, wherein the time slot to which the following parameter set is applied is determined by adding the difference value to previous time slot information, the previous time slot information associated with a previous parameter set.

6. A broadcast playback system, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive broadcast signal including an audio signal generated by downmixing a multi-channel audio signal;

a processor configured to perform operations of generating the multi-channel audio signal from the audio signal, the operations comprising;

receiving an audio signal including at least one frame, the frame comprising at least one time slot and at least one parameter set;

determining whether a low frequency enhancement (LFE) mode is applied to a particular OTT (One-To-Two) box, the LFE mode being different from a normal mode;

extracting time slot information in variable bit length, the time slot information indicating a time slot to which a parameter set is applied;

extracting LFE parameter band information in fixed bit length, the LFE parameter band information indicating a number of parameter bands for the particular OTT box; and

converting the audio signal into the multi-channel audio signal, the converting including applying the parameter of the parameter set to a parameter band of the time slot based on the LFE parameter band information and the time slot information,

wherein extracting the time slot information comprises;

extracting a number of time slots and a number of parameter sets from the audio signal to identify time slot information;

determining a bit length of the time slot information, the bit length being variable according to the number of time slots and the number of parameter sets; and

extracting the time slot information based on the bit length,

wherein a number of time slot information is equal to the number of parameter sets;

an operating system configured to control information regarding the multi-channel audio signal to an audio subsystem;

a display unit configured to display information regarding the multi-channel audio signal;

an audio subsystem configured to convert the multi-channel audio signal into a multi- channel analog output signal; and

a speaker configured to output at least one channel of the multi-channel analog output signal.

7. The broadcast playback system of claim 6, wherein at least two of the receiver, the processor, the operating system, the display unit, the audio subsystem, and the speaker exchange data via one or more buses.

8. The broadcast playback system of claim 6, wherein the time slot information is position information indicating a position of time slot to which a parameter set is applied.

9. The broadcast playback system of claim 6, wherein the time slot information includes an absolute value indicating a time slot to which a first parameter set is applied or a difference value indicating a time slot to which a following parameter set of the first parameter set is applied.

10. The broadcast playback system of claim 9, wherein the time slot to which the following parameter set is applied is determined by adding the difference value to previous time slot information, the previous time slot information associated with a previous parameter set.

11. A method of decoding an audio signal performed by a media player, the decoding based on audio codec for decoding stored in the media player, the method comprising:

receiving an audio signal including at least one frame, the frame comprising at least one time slot and at least one parameter set;

determining whether a low frequency enhancement (LFE) mode is applied to a particular OTT (One-To-Two) box, the LFE mode being different from a normal mode;

extracting time slot information in variable bit length, the time slot information indicating a time slot to which a parameter set is applied;

extracting LFE parameter band information in fixed bit length, the LFE parameter band information indicating a number of parameter bands for the LFE channel;

converting the audio signal into a multi-channel audio signal by applying the parameter of the parameter set to a parameter band of the time slot, based on the LFE parameter band information and the time slot information,

wherein extracting the time slot information comprises;

extracting a number of time slots and a number of parameter sets from the audio signal to identify time slot information;

determining a bit length of the time slot information, the bit length being variable according to the number of time slots and the number of parameter sets; and

extracting the time slot information based on the bit length, wherein a number of time slot information is equal to the number of parameter sets;

converting the multi-channel audio signal into a multi-channel analog output signal; and

outputting at least one channel of the multi-channel analog output signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the time slot information is position information indicating a position of time slot to which a parameter set is applied.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the time slot information includes an absolute value indicating a time slot to which a first parameter set is applied or a difference value indicating a time slot to which a following parameter set of the first parameter set is applied.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the time slot to which the following parameter set is applied is determined by adding the difference value to previous time slot information, the previous time slot information associated with a previous parameter set.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

searching audio related information, when a network is established.

16. A method of decoding an audio signal performed by a broadcast playback system, the method comprising:

receiving an audio signal including at least one frame, the frame comprising at least one time slot and at least one parameter set;

determining whether a low frequency enhancement (LFE) mode is applied to a particular OTT (One-To-Two) box, the LFE mode being different from a normal mode;

extracting time slot information in variable bit length, the time slot information indicating a time slot to which a parameter set is applied;

extracting LFE parameter band information in fixed bit length, the LFE parameter band information indicating a number of parameter bands for particular OTT box;

converting the audio signal into a multi-channel audio signal, the converting including applying the parameter of the parameter set to a parameter band of the time slot based on the LFE parameter band information and the time slot information,

wherein extracting the time slot information comprises;

extracting a number of time slots and a number of parameter sets from the audio signal to identify time slot information;

determining a bit length of the time slot information, the bit length being variable according to the number of time slots and the number of parameter sets; and

extracting the time slot information based on the bit length,

wherein a number of time slot information is equal to the number of parameter sets;

controlling information regarding the multi-channel audio signal to an audio subsystem for converting the multi-channel audio signal;

displaying information regarding the multi-channel audio signal;

converting the multi-channel audio signal into a multi-channel analog output signal; and

outputting at least one channel of the multi-channel analog output signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the time slot information is position information indicating a position of time slot to which a parameter set is applied.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the time slot information includes an absolute value indicating a time slot to which a first parameter set is applied or a difference value indicating a time slot to which a following parameter set of the first parameter set is applied.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the time slot to which the following parameter set is applied is determined by adding the difference value to previous time slot information, the previous time slot information associated with a previous parameter set.

20. A method of decoding an audio signal performed by an audio coding system, comprising:

receiving an audio signal including at least one frame, the frame comprising at least one time slot and at least one parameter set;

determining whether a LFE mode is applied to a particular OTT (One-To-Two) box, the LFE mode being different from a normal mode;

extracting time slot information in variable bit length, the time slot information indicating a time slot to which a parameter set is applied;

extracting LFE parameter band information in fixed bit length, the LFE parameter band information indicating a number of parameter bands for the particular OTT box; and

decoding the audio signal by applying the parameter of the parameter set to a parameter band of the time slot, based on the LFE parameter band information and the time slot information,

wherein the process of extracting time slot information comprises;

extracting a number of time slots and a number of parameter sets from the audio signal to identify time slot information;

determining a bit length of the time slot information, the bit length being variable according to the number of time slots and the number of parameter sets; and

extracting the time slot information based on the bit length,

wherein a number of time slot information is equal to the number of parameter sets.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the time slot information is position information indicating a position of time slot to which a parameter set is applied.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the time slot information includes an absolute value indicating a time slot to which a first parameter set is applied or a difference value indicating a time slot to which a following parameter set of the first parameter set is applied.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the time slot to which the following parameter set is applied is determined by adding the difference value to a previous time slot, the previous time slot to which a previous parameter set is applied.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the absolute value is determined within a first maximum range, the first maximum range being calculated using the number of parameter sets and the number of time slots, and wherein the difference value is determined within a second maximum range, the second maximum range being calculated according to previous time slot information.

25. An apparatus for decoding an audio signal, including a downmix signal and spatial information, the spatial information including at least one frame, the frame comprising at least one time slot and at least one parameter set, comprising:

a spatial information hardware decoding unit configured to;

determine whether a LFE mode is applied to a particular OTT (One-To-Two) box, the LFE mode being different from a normal mode,

extract LFE parameter band information in fixed bit length, the LFE parameter band information indicating a number of parameter bands for the particular OTT box,

extract a number of time slots and a number of parameter sets from the audio signal to identify time slot information,

determine a bit length of the time slot information, the bit length being variable according to the number of time slots and the number of parameter sets, and

extract the time slot information in variable bit length based on the bit length,

wherein a number of time slot information is equal to the number of parameter sets;

a downmix signal decoding unit configured to decode the downmix signal; and

a multi-channel generating unit configured to generate multi-channel audio signal by applying the parameter of the parameter set to a parameter band of the time slot, based on the LFE parameter band information and the time slot information.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the time slot information is position information indicating a position of time slot to which a parameter set is applied.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the time slot information includes an absolute value indicating a time slot to which a first parameter set is applied or a difference value indicating a time slot to which a following parameter set of the first parameter set is applied.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the time slot to which the following parameter set is applied is determined by adding the difference value to a previous time slot, the previous time slot to which a previous parameter set is applied.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the absolute value is determined within a first maximum range, the first maximum range being calculated using the number of parameter sets and the number of time slots, and wherein the difference value is determined within a second maximum range, the second maximum range being calculated according to previous time slot information.